Kongsberg Defence’s first launchers for NASAMS Australian air defense system arrived.

The first shipment of Mk 2 canister launchers for Australia’s future National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) has arrived at Raytheon Australia’s Centre for Joint Integration, Defense Brief reports. Kongsberg Defence Australia (KDAu) announced the milestone after the components arrived in Australia from Kongsberg’s Norwegian facilities.
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Arrival of the first shipment of Mk 2 Canister Launchers in Australia from Kongsberg's facility in Norway (Picture source: Kongsberg)

On June 20, 2019, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace was awarded a contract by Raytheon Australia for the delivery of NASAMS components. Raytheon Australia is the prime contractor to deliver NASAMS to the Australian Government Land 19 Phase 7B program. The Australian Government, Raytheon Australia and Kongsberg announced the approval of the program on March 25, 2019, in a ceremony at Raytheon Australia`s new Centre for Joint Integration to be built in Adelaide, Australia.

Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace’s Vice President Air Defence Programs, Leif Roar Olsen, on January 24, said: “Army’s NASAMS Mark 2 Canister Launchers will allow them to employ a mixture of different AMRAAM missile variants, as well as the AIM-9X Block 2 missile," John Fry, General Manager of Kongsberg Defence Australia, added. "This mix of missiles is highly effective against advanced aircraft, just like they are on the F-35A and Super Hornet, as well as being highly effective against air-delivered threats such as cruise missiles. Importantly, the Mk 2 Canister Launcher that will be provided to the Australian Army under NASAMS is the most modern launcher configuration. Successfully completing the first live-fire tests last year, this latest launcher also provides options for additional missile types.”

Indeed, the Mk 2 Canister Launcher represents the latest launcher build standard and includes a new common ground launch rail to enable the employment of multiple missile types. The launchers are now being painted by South Australia-based Defence Coating Systems, whilst KDAu conducts final factory acceptance testing and support to system-level NASAMS testing activities.

NASAMS is produced jointly by Kongsberg and Raytheon Technologies and is in service with, or under delivery to, 12 nations. Raytheon is responsible for delivering its advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) for the system, while Kongsberg is supplying launcher systems. NASAMS will replace the current SHORAD capability, including the RBS-70, as the Army’s principal air defense weapon. While the Phase 7B solution will be able to operate independently, it will be designed to operate as a subset of the broader Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defence (JIAMD) capability and has a key project interdependency with the Joint Battle Management System to be delivered by project AIR 6500.

Another component of the Australian SHORAD system is the radars, which will be delivered by CEA Technologies. The vehicle-mounted radars will be delivered in long and short-range variants, with the short-range variant to be mounted on the Australian-developed Thales Hawkei vehicle. (Picture source: Kongsberg)